LICENCE TO KILL
US, 1989, 133 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Dalton, Cary Lowell, Robert Davi, Everett Mc Gill, Anthony Zerbe, Wayne Newton, Benicio del Toro.
Directed by John Glen.
Licence to Kill is the second James Bond film with Timothy Dalton as James Bond. It is the fifth film to be directed by John Glen.
The film has spectacular action as always, as well as tongue-in-cheek dialogue. However, the villain is not some world power-hungry maniac. The power-hungry maniacs of the '80s were the millionaire drug tycoons. This film focuses on that issue - which makes it basically more credible. The setting is Florida and Central America.
Bond goes through his usual adventures and destroys the villain. He is assisted by an attractive agent, as well as by the mistress of the tycoon. There is an assorted array of villains including Anthony Zerbe as a smuggler. Desmond Llewellyn has a good role as Q.
The formula has worked by this time for almost 30 years and audiences still enjoy the routine spectacle and adventure of a James Bond film.
1.The popularity of the series, the formula and the ingredients? Timothy Dalton's particular style and presence as James Bond?
2.Location photography, Panavision, gloss? The world of James Bond, agents, drug tycoons? Florida, Central America?
3.The importance of the stunts: the initial stunt with the plane and the helicopter? The sharks, the boats, the underwater photography? Explosions? Tankers and vehicles, planes?
4.The musical theme, the theme song? Musical score?
5.The prologue with Felix and Della about to be married, Bond and Sharkey present? The alert, Sanchez, the confrontation, the plane and the capture by the helicopter? The wedding and literally dropping in? The wedding cake?
6.Sanchez and his wealth, his pursuit of enemies, killing them? His being captured, the $2,000,000 bribe to the American police, the rescue and the underwater escape? The taking of Leiter, the torture, putting him to the shark, killing his wife?
7.Timothy Dalton as Bond: style and manner? The initial adventure, leaving, the news about Felix and his wife, the return, the relentless pursuit of Sanchez? The British government trying to stop him? The rendezvous with Pam? On the boat with Sharkey - and Sharkey's death? Lupe and Krest, the boat? Going to the city, investing in the bank, the casino? His attempt to kill Sanchez - and the reaction of the undercover Hong Kong police? Q and his artillery and gadgets? Befriending Sanchez? Lupe's attraction and help? The trip to the drug centre? The former fight with Dario, seeing him again, the ultimate fight, explosions, vehicle pursuits? Pam and her help? Lupe - and her final decision to go with the president? The happy ending?
8.Pam and her work for Felix, her skills, pilot, meeting him, the escape, the bulletproof vest, flying him in, posing as his secretary, jealousies, helping Q? In the final rescue?
9.Lupe and Sanchez, his initial jealousy and pursuing her? With Krest on the boat? Helping Bond? Betraying Sanchez, going off with the president?
10.Sanchez and his drug empire, wealth, going out of his territory and being caught, the escape, the bribes, the sharks, in the city, the bank and the casino, friendship with Bond, the meeting with the Asians, the trust? His henchmen? Blown up?
11.The portrait of Dario and the various thugs? Sadistic? Keller and his advice, his betrayal? The meek accountant and his brilliance, trying to save the money, his death?
12.Krest, his money, running the drugs, the boat? His being destroyed? Tricked by Sanchez - and his violent death?
